Mandevilla plant named ‘MAN216902’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘MAN216902’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; relatively small glossy green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; and large bright red-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla sanderi.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MAN216902’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla sanderi andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘MAN216902’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new freely-flowering Mandevillaplants with large and attractive flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from a cross-pollination conductedby the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in August, 2012 of aproprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number11-0008-000, not patented, as the female, or seed parent with aproprietary selection of Mandevilla sanderi identified as code number11-0007-000, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newMandevilla plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationin a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands inMay, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by vegetative cuttingsin a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands,since August, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this newMandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MAN216902’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘MAN216902’ as a new and distinct Mandevillaplant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and spreading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Relatively small glossy green-colored leaves.    -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   6. Large bright red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in flower color as plants of thefemale parent selection have pinkish red-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily fromplants of the male parent selection in flowering habit as plants of thenew Mandevilla are more freely flowering than plants of the male parentselection.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of Mandevillaatroviolacea X (Mandevilla amabilis X Mandevilla boliviensis)‘Sunmandecrim’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,539. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily from plants‘Sunmandecrim’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more compact and have        shorter internodes than plants of ‘Sunmandecrim’.    -   2. Plants of the new Mandevilla flower earlier than plants of        ‘Sunmandecrim’.    -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘Sunmandecrim’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of typical7-month old flowering plants of ‘MAN216902’ grown in round containerswith one plant per 10-cm container.

The photograph on the second sheet is side perspective view of typical9-month old flowering plants of ‘MAN216902’ grown in a 24-cm patiocontainer with nine plants per container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the autumn, winter and spring ina glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of Mandevilla commercial production. Duringthe production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22°C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were pinched one timefour weeks after planting. Plants were seven and nine months old whenthe photographs were taken and eight months old when the description wastaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla sanderi ‘MAN216902’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla            sanderi identified as code number 11-0008-000, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Mandevilla            sanderi identified as code number 11-0007-000, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 21 days at            temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 27 days at            temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days            at temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days            at temperatures about 22° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous to slightly            fleshy; typically whitish brown in color, actual color of            the roots is dependent on substrate composition, water            quality, fertilizers, substrate temperature and            physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and            spreading plant habit; short internodes, dense and bushy            appearance; vigorous growth habit; moderately rapid growth            rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 21            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 21            cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 22 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely            branching habit with about two primary each with about two            secondary lateral branches developing per plant. Length,            primary branches: About 15 cm to 20 cm. Length, secondary            branches: About 5 cm to 10 cm. Diameter, primary and            secondary branches: About 3 mm. Internode length: About 2 cm            to 3 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; semi-glossy becoming woody and matte with            development. Color, developing: Close to 144B. Color,            developed: Close to 144A; when woody, close to 148B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; relatively small.        -   Length.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.        -   Width.—About 3 cm to 4 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Apex.—Mucronate.        -   Base.—Slightly cordate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; leathery; glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            137D. Full expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137A;            main vein, close to 143C and lateral venation, close to            NN137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C;            main vein, close to 143C and lateral venation, close to            146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Diameter: About            2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper            surface: Close to 181B. Color, lower surface: Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arranged in axillary racemes; flowers star-shaped and face            upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about five            to six flowers per inflorescence and during the flowering            season, about 25 flower buds and flowers per plant at one            time.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            spring until frost in The Netherlands; plants begin            flowering about seven months after planting.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About eight to ten days;            flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 10 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 15 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.            Shape: Elongated spindle-shaped. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to N144D and 181D;            towards the base, close to 184C.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and            five-parted. Diameter: About 8 cm to 9 cm. Depth (length):            About 4 cm to 6 cm. Throat diameter: About 1.8 cm. Tube            length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Tube diameter, distally: About 4            mm.        -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a            single whorl; proximal portion of the petals are fused into            a tube; distal free portions slightly imbricate. Petal            length: About 4 cm. Petal width: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm. Petal            shape and appearance: Ovate to triangular, asymmetrical.            Petal apex: Acute. Petal margin: Entire; slightly undulate.            Petal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; semi-glossy. Throat and tube texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close            to 46C. Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to N45D;            stripe, close to 155D. Petal, fully opened, upper surface:            Close to 46B; venation, close to 46B; color does not change            with development. Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close            to N45D; stripe, close to 155D; venation, close to N45D;            color does not change with development. Throat: Close to            30C; venation, close to 30C. Tube: Close to between 181D and            184C; towards the base, close to N144D; stripe, close to            155D; venation, same as ground colors.        -   Calyx.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a            single whorl; calyx, star-shaped. Length: About 5 mm to            8 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Sepal length: About 4 mm            to 6 mm. Sepal width: About 2 mm. Sepal shape: Subulate.            Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture and            luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            semi-glossy. Sepal color: When opening, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 145A. Fully opened, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 145A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 146D.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 30° from peduncle            axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color:            Close to 144C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:            Typically five; basifixed; anthers connivent. Filament            color: Close to 14D. Anther length: About 6 mm to 8 mm.            Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther color: Close to 14D.            Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 14D.            Pistils: Quantity: Typically one. Pistil length: About 1 cm            to 1.5 cm. Style color: Close to 150B. Stigma shape:            Club-shaped. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color:            Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Seeds.—Quantity per flower: About 200. Length: About 7 mm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Brownish, close to 200D.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Mandevilla plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about    45° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named ‘MAN216902’as illustrated and described.